Hunter pulled from lineup as Achilles injury persists

DETROIT -- Though he was in manager Jim Leyland's initial lineup Friday, Torii Hunter was scratched with continued soreness in his left Achilles and is day to day.

After exiting Thursday's game in the eighth, Hunter was confident he wouldn't miss any games.

"You just have to play smart until it's over with, that's all you do," Hunter said while he was still in the lineup.

Andy Dirks will replace Hunter in the lineup and in right field. Hunter hobbled around after taking the first pitch in his eighth-inning at-bat. He stayed in and grounded out, then left the game.

"In the second inning, I felt it, it was just sore," Hunter said. "In my last at-bat, I picked my leg up and stepped down to swing, and when I hit the ground, it just shook a little bit. I was a little nervous, and I just kind of rolled off of it so nothing would happen. It was a little sore."

Hunter attributed the pain to a new pair of dress shoes, and was walking around the clubhouse Friday with his lower left leg wrapped in gauze.

"It's not serious," Hunter said before doing any work on the field. "I had injuries; I've been playing for so long. I've know all the injuries, but I know this one's not going to hold me back."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.